If
you need proof that less is more, this is it. With just three
voices and two electroharps, Shine produce an album that’s
breathtaking, haunting, beautiful and innovative and full
of a magic that simultaneously encapsulates and challenges
the essence of Scottish music.

Shine has emerged from
the vigorous Scottish music scene. Corrina from
the Highlands lived with the Scottish folk tradition but went
on to study jazz. Alyth was brought up in the
Islands amidst the gaelic tradition but went on to study classical
music. Mary was raised in Glasgow and Edinburgh,
but with roots in the gaelic culture, studied scottish history
and taught herself music.

.... Drawn to Shine through
a common need of expression, their own diverse individualities; passionate
and challenging; blend together and fuse, to create this unique sound
which is Shine.

Recorded at Kinky Studio, Edinburgh by Nik Kinloch and at the
Sound Cafe, Ninemileburn by Dave Gray
Mixed by Nik Kinloch
Produced by Jim Sutherland
Photos/concepts by Craig Mackay
Design/Artwork by Alister Macinnes at Dubhe
Web design by Al Hewat
Indispensible live sound engineer Mark Whyles

Alyth
McCormack
'the voice at the leading edge of gaelic song'
Alyth McCormack was brought up amidst the Gaelic singing of the Island
of Lewis, in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. She began singing when
she was very young and, having been immersed in this culture, decided
to study music. She went to college in both Edinburgh and Glasgow
and in 1994 graduated from the RSAMD with a degree in Music Performance.

'a voice of such heavenly purity . . . '
The years that followed were spent touring Britain and Europe
with various bands. She then began to experiment with other
musical genre and to develop the style of Gaelic music she
now performs. In 1998 she was invited to Canada to represent
Scottish Gaelic for the CBC/BBC television production 'Celtic
Electric'. Further television appearances include the BAFTA
award winning 'Tacsi' as a solo artist in 1999 and 2000, a
Scottish/Irish production for 'Tele nan Gaidhlig' and 'Togaidh
sinn fonn'.

'. . . yet tinged with worldly sadness'
She has appeared solo on the German Scottish Folk Festival Tour
(Jan'00), at Celtic Connections (Jan'01), the Hebridean Celtic
Festival (July'99) and Kaustinen Folk Festival (July'99), the
Highland Festival(Jun'00) and also The Edinburgh Festival 2000.
This year she will be touring with 'Shine' in Greece, England
on Folkworks' 'Sharper than the Thorn' tour, Italy, The Highland
Festival, Spain & The West End Festival in Glasgow.

'emotion-bearer of the Scottish tradition'
Mary Macmaster is considered one of the most innovative players
of the metal-strung harp in the world today. As a self-taught
mistress of the bright golden tones of this instrument, and
as a fine singer of Gaelic and Scottish songs, she has contributed
to some of the best traditional music to come out of Britain
this decade.

'inimitable technique on wire-strung and electroharp'
Mary began her career as half of the harp duo, Sileas, with Patsy
Seddon, whom she met while studying Scottish History and Gaelic
at the University of Edinburgh. With Patsy, she went on to become
a founder member of the highly popular four-piece band,The Poozies,
in which she also plays the fantastic Camac electro-harp.

'raw, velvet-toned vocals'She has worked alongside legendary musicians like
Dick Gaughan in the band Clan Alba, with The Scottish Chamber
Orchestra on Phil Cunningham's Highlands and Islands Suite; with
Jo Freya and Kathryn Locke in a performance of contemporary music
commissioned for the Byron Festival in Nottinghamshire, with
Mike Travis' Uncharted Territory, a jazz/folk fusion project,
and following that same theme, in 1999 she took part in the great
Geordie event, Bigfest.

Corrina
Hewat

'mistress of harmony'One of the leading harp players in the world today,
she has toured Europe, the Far East, America and Canada to rave
reviews and regularly appears on radio and television (BAFTA
award-winning 'Tacsi', BBC2, 'Demo TV', BBC 2 and Channel 4).
Few can boast such a wealth of experience in such a diversity
of music. She also has a degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music
from the City of Leeds College of Music.

"one of the top harpers in the world"
Corrina has taken the Small Harp to a new level of excellence,
combining traditional style music with contemporary attitude.
She is in demand as a player, composer, arranger and teacher,
and her appeal grows larger as more and more people get to hear
and meet her. She has worked in Seannachie (1994 - 1996), Bachue
(1995 onwards), Chantan (1996 - 1998), and has done touring and
session work with Eric Bibb and Horse MacDonald among others.

"a jazz singer's flexibility, a blues singer's economy,
a folk singer's heart"
She is also blessed with a stunningly individual voice, which resonates
with years of soaking up Scotland's musical tradition, while exploring
contemporary elements and jazz. She is also a composer with three
commissions under her belt so far: 'Making the Connection' for
Celtic Connections' 'New Voices' 1998, 'Songs of Redshank' for
the Highland Festival 1996 and 'Photons in Vapour' for An Tobar,
Isle of Mull 2000.